The Olive Branch is a popular and spacious stone villa with outstanding panoramic views which encompass all of Souda Bay, the Akrotiri Peninsula, Aptera Castle, and the White Mountains. Set on a hillside next to an olive grove on the outskirts of Plaka, this villa affords quick and easy access by foot to the excellent tavernas, cafes and shops in the village. The Olive Branch is much more roomy than your average 3 bedroom Cretan villa and has been built using pretty honey coloured local stone. It has wonderful traditional features such as stone arches and stone detailing around the windows, and wood beamed ceilings made from local cypress wood in the living area and all the bedrooms. The wonderful pool is fully tiled (not shown in the current photos) and the entire house and pool terrace is surrounded by a natural stone wall with black iron railings. There are flowerbeds dotted around the edge of the property which have a variety of plants which give a splash of colour, including mature bougainvillea, hibiscus, cacti, lavender, lemon verbena, margarita daisies, and geraniums.

The English owners have thoughtfully furnished the house combining typically Cretan wooden furniture with many modern comforts, such as a fully fitted, very well equipped kitchen which includes: a ceramic hob, built-in oven, a microwave oven, a dishwasher and a washing machine; very comfortable rust coloured couches, a new flat screen TV (not shown in the photos), Free WIFI, and a DVD player in the lounge; aluminium doors, window frames and shutters; and air conditioning units in all the bedrooms and the living room. The a/c units also double up as heaters for the cooler nights at the start and end of the season. The water is heated by either solar panel or a back-up immersion heater. Whilst there is a good number of books, a chess set, and a Scrabble set for the adults, the smallest members of the family have not been forgotten either. The Olive Branch Villa has a sturdy plastic see-saw and slide, and a small ride upon toy tractor for younger children to enjoy.

The Olive Branch upstairs balcony is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning views, especially the sunset which is spectacular from here. At night you can sit and watch the ferries going to and from Athens, or the lights twinkling from the Akrotiri Peninsula on the opposite side of Souda Bay. The outdoor terraces have an ample supply of garden furniture including a large dining table and 6 director’s chairs, sun-loungers, umbrellas and a BBQ. This villa books up early, and has repeat guests year after year, once you have stayed here you will understand why!

EOT (Greek Tourist Board) License: MHTE 1042K 100033103001

Villa Accommodation

Ground floor (3 steps from the private parking area, 1 step up from the pool terrace): Open plan living room, kitchen and dining area, 1 twin bedroom, 1 shower room, a large sea and mountain facing covered terrace. The living room has double doors that open out onto a large covered terrace (next to the swimming pool) that is equipped with a large wooden table and 6 comfortable cream director’s chairs. The lounge area has free WIFI, 2 comfortable rust coloured couches, a wooden and glass coffee table, a TV/DVD unit which doubles up as a bookcase, and a standard lamp. There is also a window which looks out towards an olive tree and the village. The modern kitchen/dining area is fully equipped and includes pine cupboards, a dishwasher, a washing machine, ceramic hob and built in oven, a large fridge/freezer, a microwave oven, and a locally made wooden dining table and chairs which seat 6. The kitchen window looks out over the pool terrace, and hanging on the kitchen wall are 3 clay masks which depict different Greek gods. The hallway leads to the staircase, a shower room and a twin bedroom. The shower room is fully tiled with pretty pale pink and light terracotta tiles. There is a shower, a white washbasin, a mirrored cabinet, and a toilet. The twin bedroom has 2 single beds, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a wardrobe, and very cheerful, brightly coloured bedspreads. There is a window which looks out to a low stone wall, a flowerbed, and the village.

First floor (17 steps up from the ground floor): 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 1 twin bedroom, 1 full bathroom and a large open terrace. The master suite has a double bed, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a wardrobe, a safe, a full length mirror with a wooden base, and a pretty turquoise bedspread. There are double doors that open out onto a balcony which has gorgeous views to the sea, the pool, and the entire area, and is equipped with a coffee table and chairs. The master bedroom also has a window which faces south towards the village. The en-suite bathroom has pale pink and terracotta tiles and a bathroom suite comprising a full bath with shower attachment, a wash basin, a mirrored cabinet, a toilet and a large frosted window. The hallway leads to a full bathroom and a twin bedroom. The bath room is fully tiled with pretty pale pink and light terracotta tiles. There is a bath with a shower attachment, a white washbasin, a mirrored cabinet, and a toilet. The twin bedroom has 2 single beds, 2 bedside cabinets, a wardrobe, and very fresh brightly coloured green and white bedspreads. This bedroom has a window which faces south towards the village.

Villa Location

The main square in Plaka is only 250m from The Olive Branch Villa and is still very much the focal point of village life. There are lovely shady mulberry trees under which the locals sit to watch the world go by whilst enjoying a delicious meal or even just an ice cold frappe. Plaka was one of the original village sets for the film “Zorba the Greek” and it still has quaint whitewashed houses and narrow streets leading off from the square. The modern outskirts of the village have expanded recently as have the facilities, which now include 7 tavernas, 2 well stocked mini markets, an Italian restaurant, a shop selling local produce, and 6 cafes. The lovely village of Almyrida is only 1.4km from The Olive Branch, and is built around a pretty crescent shaped sandy beach, with a small fishing harbour at the eastern end. The beach is very shallow and safe, which is good news if you have children or are not a strong swimmer. Lining the beach are 13 excellent tavernas, 7 cafés, 2 bars, 2 bakeries, 1 Italian ice cream shop, a wonderful jewellery shop, 4 mini-markets, 5 gift shops, a pharmacy, an organic fruit and vegetable shop with a deli counter, a butcher's shop, an off-license/drinks shop, a nail spa, a body and wellness spa, 1 kiosk, and 4 real estate offices. Also in Almyrida there is a children's play centre which provides babysitting, a space with pool tables and a variety of games machines, a scuba diving centre, pedalo rentals, a water sports centre which rents out kayaks, windsurfers and catamarans, and Villas Crete Holidays for tourist information, private boat hire, boat trips, horse riding, private sightseeing flights in a light aircraft, big game fishing, and guided walking and coach tours. A few minutes by car from the villa, there are a huge variety of archaeological sites and traditional villages with wonderful tavernas. There is also an interesting selection of small craft centres and museums, including glass blowing in Kokkino Horio , and lace makers in Gavalohori. For those of you looking for even more activity, the historic town of Chania is only 35 minutes away by car.

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3 steps from the parking area to the house, 1 step from the house to the pool terrace, 17 steps to the upper floor – this house is suitable for the elderly or disabled, if they stay in the downstairs twin bedroom.

How private?

The pool terrace can be seen by 5 houses 100m away to one side of the villa but the greenery on the Olive Branch does provide some screeing. The villa is set above the other houses in the area.

Nearest neighbour?

100m to the left hand side and some stone maisonettes set just below the pool terrace.

Plaka Square is within walking distance, and there is a limited bus service from Almyrida into Chania , but we recommend car hire in order to explore the varied regions of the area.

Villa Rental Prices

All prices shown are per Villa, per Week, in Euros. The lower prices for 1 - 2 guests are for the use of 1 bedroom only.

From :

To :

Price: 1 - 2 guests

Price: 3 - 6 guests

01.10.16

07.11.16

745

795

31.03.16

31.03.17

Long term rentals only.

01.04.17

30.04.17

745

795

01.05.17

31.05.17

895

995

01.06.17

30.06.17

1045

1095

01.07.17

31.08.17

1675

1675

01.09.17

30.09.17

1045

1095

01.10.17

07.11.17

745

795

08.11.17

31.03.18

Long term rentals only.

The above prices shown are in EUROS, per Week. These prices include a Free Welcome Pack, representative services, a villa information book, and detailed directions to all the sights from the guide book “Crete on the Road ” by Frankie Miles.

Villa Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions.

Can You (Villas Crete Holidays) Arrange Car Hire for Us?

We can arrange car hire for our guests. We have negotiated special prices with some excellent companies that provide first class service, reliable and well- serviced vehicles, plus unlimited mileage and CDW, fully comprehensive insurance for peace of mind for you and your family. Because we book a lot of cars each season with these car hire companies they do give our guests priority. We can arrange to have the car/s delivered and collected to/from Chania airport or your Villa at no extra charge, or to Souda/Chania Ferry Port at no extra charge from 09.00 - 21.00 (and for a fee out of these hours), or to Heraklion Airport or Heraklion Ferry Port for a fee. You are welcome to book your own car hire but please note that we are unable to intervene in any problems that may arise with car hire that is not booked through us.